Power Authority to Reopen Reservoirs for Fishing

Contact
Steve Ramsey
1-800-724-0309 or 518-287-6000 ext 6380
steve.ramsey@nypa.gov

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March 11, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NORTH BLENHEIM—–The New York Power Authority will reopen the upper and lower reservoirs at the Blenheim-Gilboa Pumped Storage Power Project to boaters who obtain and display special permits on their boats and boat trailers.

Permits for recreational boating will be good beginning April 1 (provided ice has melted by that date) until Sept. 30. Both reservoirs are closed to boating the rest of the year.

Applications for permits may be obtained by calling 1-800-724-0309 or by visiting the Power Authority’s web page, www.nypa.gov.

The upper reservoir, located on Kingsley Road in the Town of Gilboa, is open to boating daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Sept. 30. Permit holders are required to call 1-800-FOR-NYPA (1-800-367-6972) extension 6364, on the day before they intend to use the reservoir. On the day they use the reservoir, boaters must stop at the South Gate on Valenti Road to notify security personnel.

The lower reservoir may be accessed through Mine Kill State Park on Route 30. Boating is permitted from 7:30 a.m. until the park closes each day.  Until the first weekend in May, the park closes each day at 4 p.m. Thereafter, it is open until dusk.

Boating on the upper reservoir is restricted to recreational craft -- rowboats and canoes -- with or without electric trolling motors, which are clearly marked with New York State registration numbers and a NYPA permit.Gasoline-powered engines are permitted only on the lower reservoir.

The reservoirs may be closed to boating at any time due to increased threat level as determined by Power Authority corporate security officials.